With the opening day just weeks away on August 27, the club is putting the finishing touches to its new Johan Cruyff Stadium, which will be welcoming supporters to the ground with a huge mural that symbolises the way the great man was always so supportive of nurturing young footballing talent.

One of the largest murals in Europe to use this format is 1,000 m2 in size, and is the work of Axe Colors, the design studio that also illustrated the players tunnel at the Camp Nou. FC Barcelona wanted to make the area around the car park and entrance to the ground more colourful for fans heading to games played by Barça B, the Barça women’s team and the U19 team when they play in the UEFA Youth League. And the result is simply spectacular!

Messi, Xavi and Iniesta

The first part of the mega-image is dedicated to La Masia, with silhouettes of children playing football and celebrating goals. It also features a famous Cruyff quote: “in my teams, the goalkeeper is the first attacker and the striker id the first defender.”

There is also an image of girls playing football to celebrate the club’s strong focus in recent years on the women’s game. Next come pictures of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta with Ballon d’Or, honouring 2010 when three products of the Barça youth system finished first, second and third in the UEFA award. There is also an image of the old Masia de Can Planes building and another top Cruyff saying: “If you have the ball, your opponent does not.”

Cruyff at his best

The second part is more focused on Johan Cruyff himself, with a portrait image and another of him in his typical coaching pose, together with another of his quotes: “Go out and enjoy yourselves.” 

Ronald Koeman’s European Cup winning goals at Wembley and Cruyff’s acrobatics against Atlético Madrid that earned him the moniker of the ‘Flying Dutchman’ figure alongside the words: “I’d rather win 5-4 than 1-0.”

And then we have him sat on a ball as a player with his three Ballon d’Or trophies, with the words "football is a game you play with your brain."

The palette is a smooth blend of red and blue colour, thus forming the iconic blaugrana of FC Barcelona, and the overall effect is simply enchanting. Fans are going to love it!